Sanitary napkin having stabilized members in the end regions

Abstract

The present invention provides an absorbent article preferably being a sanitary napkin that comprises a longitudinal centerline, a transverse centerline, a pair of longitudinal edges, two end edges, a first end region extending from one of the end edges toward the transverse centerline, and a second end region extending from the other end edge toward the transverse centerline. Also, there is a central region positioned between the first and second end regions. The sanitary napkin further comprises a first surface, a second surface that is faced opposite to the first surface wherein the flexure-resistance of the sanitary napkin as measured through the first and second end regions is greater than the flexure-resistance of the sanitary napkin as measured through the central region.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A sanitary napkin comprising a longitudinal centerline, a transverse centerline, a pair of longitudinal edges, two end edges, a first end region extending from one of said end edges toward said transverse centerline, and a second end region extending from said other end edge toward said transverse centerline, each said first end region and said second end region comprising at least one stabilizing member, and a central region having absorbable material therein, said stabilizing members beings positioned substantially only within said end regions and said central region being positioned between said first and said second end regions, said sanitary napkin comprising: a first surface; and   a second surface opposed to said first surface   wherein said central region has a transverse width greater than or equal to about 5 centimeters, and the flexural-resistance of said sanitary napkin as measured through at least one end region is greater than the flexural-resistance of said sanitary napkin as measured through said central region, and said sanitary napkin has a caliper less than about 5 millimeters as measured through said first and said second end regions.   
     
     
       2. The sanitary napkin of claim 1 wherein said first and said second end regions each comprise at least one said stabilizing member positioned adjacent said first and said second end edges. 
     
     
       3. The sanitary napkin of claim 1 having a caliper as measured through said first and said second end regions no greater than about 3 millimeters. 
     
     
       4. The sanitary napkin of claim 3 wherein said first and said second end regions extend from said end edges of said sanitary napkin between about 1/10 and 1/3 of the length of said sanitary napkin toward said transverse centerline. 
     
     
       5. The sanitary napkin of claim 1 wherein the flexural-resistance of said first and said second end regions is at least about 25 percent greater than the flexural-resistance of said central region. 
     
     
       6. The sanitary napkin of claim 1 wherein said flexural-resistance of said first and said second end regions is at least about 50 percent greater than said flexural-resistance of said central region. 
     
     
       7. The sanitary napkin of claim 1 wherein the flexural-resistance of said central region is no greater than about 600 grams. 
     
     
       8. The sanitary napkin of claim 1 wherein the flexural-resistance of said first and said second end regions is no greater than about 1000 grams. 
     
     
       9. A sanitary napkin having a longitudinal centerline, a transverse centerline, two longitudinal edges, two end edges, a first end region extending from one of said end edges toward said transverse centerline, a second end region extending from said other end edge toward said transverse centerline, each said first end region and said second end region comprising at least one stabilizing member, said stabilizing member being positioned substantially only within said end regions and a central region positioned between said first and said second end regions, said sanitary napkin comprising: a liquid pervious topsheet;   a liquid impervious backsheet joined to said topsheet; and   an absorbent core positioned between said topsheet and said backsheet, said absorbent core having two longitudinal edges and a width defined by said longitudinal edges   wherein said central region has a transverse width greater than or equal to about 5 centimeters, and the flexural-resistance of said sanitary napkin as measured through said first and said second end regions is greater than said flexural-resistance of said sanitary napkin as measured through said central region, said sanitary napkin having a caliper as measured through said first and said second end regions of less than about 5 millimeters.   
     
     
       10. The sanitary napkin of claim 9 wherein said first and said second end edges each comprise at least one said stabilizing member. 
     
     
       11. The sanitary napkin of claim 9 having a caliper as measured through said first and said second end regions no greater than about 3 millimeters. 
     
     
       12. The sanitary napkin of claim 11 wherein said first and said second end regions extend from said end edges of said sanitary napkin between about 1/10 and 1/3 of the length of said sanitary napkin toward said transverse centerline. 
     
     
       13. The sanitary napkin of claim 9 wherein said flexural-resistance of said first and said second end regions is at least about 25 percent greater than said flexural-resistance of said central region. 
     
     
       14. The sanitary napkin of claim 9 wherein said flexural-resistance of said first and said second end regions is at least about 50 percent greater than said flexural-resistance of said central region. 
     
     
       15. The sanitary napkin of claim 9 wherein said flexural-resistance of said central region is no greater than about 600 grams. 
     
     
       16. The sanitary napkin of claim 9 wherein said flexural-resistance of said first and said second end regions is no greater than about 1000 grams.